I got a call on my way to the airport that the last of my connecting flights Lusaka to Lilongwe (on Ethiopian as Emirates don't fly there) has been postponed from Friday to Tuesday (and instead of being direct was now going to involve a change in Harare). As I have a class to teach on Monday this clearly wasn't going to work and so corporate travel agent had found a routing that required about 18 hours in Lusaka overnight and was about £30 more.

The ticket was a single through ticket (MAN DXB LUN LLW) with a similar return (but with 3 days in LUN). Travel agent didn't know who if anyone would pay for hotel (but said Emirateswerent going to pay) and as the thoughts of faffing about hoping a hotel would be booked plus the additional cost of a visa ($50), taxis etc in the rush (checking was closing in 40 mins for the first flight) I opted to go via joburg on two overnight (economy) flights with 15 hours in Dubai (daytime with lounge access as I am silver and chance to meet up with a friend), 6 hours in JNB, and £240 price difference.

Would someone have been liable for my accomodation had I gone for the overnight in Lusaka? Have i lost chance of insurance (which kicks in after 12 hour delay) paying something?

I'm not sure I did the right thing (but arriving IN Lusaka without anything sorted wouldn't have been good either). If they'd phoned earlier (even half an hour) then I would have stayed at home an extra night and sorted something better out.